Automobile-refrigerator.



C. G. BILLING.

AUTOMOBILE REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I 3. I9l3.

1 l 98,870. l Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

42 19 33 Q36 as Z 38 SI1/manta CGJQLZZ il??? www# C. G. BILLING.

AUTOMOBILE REFRIGERATOR.

APPucATloN FILED Au G'.18. 1913.

1 ,l 98,870. L lzltvntvdsop'f. 19, 1916.

ZVSHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES G. BILLING, 0F SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AUTOMOBILE-REFRIGERATOR.

incesto.

Application filed August 18, 1913.

To ZZ whom it ymay concern Be it known that I, CHARLES G. BILLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile -Refrigerators; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to refrigerators designed particularly for use in connection with automobiles and has for an object to provide a neat, compact refrigerator that will be so constructed that lunches and botA tles may be stored therewithin in such a manner as not to be affected by jarring of the refrigerator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator which will be so constructed as to be light and strong while at the same time to operate most effectively in maintaining the stored articles in a refrigerated state.

A still further object is to provide a refrigerator which will be formed of a few ing this invention :-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the refrigerator. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3--3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of the cover. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the bottle racks. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the lunch box rack with one of the lunch boxes therein. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the ice can. Fig. S is a vertical sectional view through the drip trap.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts. 1U designates in general the outer I casing or box which includes a bottom 11, ides 1Q, ends 13, and a hinged cover 14, this casing being formed of wood, or other Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed sept. 1a, iam.

serial No. 785,350.

suitable material, and being preferably enameled or otherwise finished' in the same color as the automobile upon which vit is to be used. l

There is an interlining 15 of mineral wool or other suitable material disposed upon the inner. faces of the bottom, walls and cover, and a sheet metal lining 16 is likewise disposed upon and confines the interlining in place. This metallic lining may be coated with porcelain if desired and may be enq ameled white in accordance with late sanitary refrigerator construction.

In carrying out my invention, a pair of bottle racks 17 are provided, each rack comprising preferably three arched standards 18 that are connected by horizontal shelves 19 and 20. The upper shelf 19 is provided with bottle receiving openings 21 and the lower shelf is imperforate to support the bottles 22 as shown. These bottle racks are disposed up against respective sides of the refrigerator. In order to positively hold the bottles against bouncing, there are apair of oblong cushions 23 disposed on the inner face of the cover above the racks and adapted to bear down upon the tops of the bottles when the cover is closed, each cushion being preferably formed of mineral wool or other suitable material and being incased with a wire gauze housing 24 of sufficient rigidity to hold the cushion in form.

Disposed centrally within the refrigerator is a sheet metal ice can 25 which is provided on the bottom with legs 26 to space the can from and support the same upon the bottom of the refrigerator, the can being provided near the rim with a' plurality of orifices 27 and further being provided in the bottom with a square opening 2S, through which thc cold air escapes as well as through the openings 27, there being 'a marginal flange 29 fromed about the edge of the opening in the bottom to prevent the Water from escaping through this opening. Arranged in the bottom of the can to one side .of the opening 28 is a drip pipe 30 which communicates with a second drip pipe 31 that passes through the bottom of the refrigerator and terminates in a cone 32 of usual character, this drip as usual preventing air from entering the refrigerator while at the same time facilitating the escape of the water from the ice can.

There is a follower plate 33 connected by helical springs 34 to the cover and adapted to pass into the ice can and form a closure therefor when the cover is closed, such follower plate when disposed within the can preventing shifting of the can within the refrigerator while at the same time when the can is full of ice, bearing upon and holding the ice firmly upon' the ice shelf 35 which latter is preferably formed of, corrugated sheet metal and is disposed in the bottom of the can as shown. There are vent openings 36 formed in` the follower plate topromote escape of the cold air from the can.

A pair of lunch box racks 37 are disposed between the ice can and related ends of the refrigerator, each comprising a pair of arched frames 38 that are connectedv by shelves 39 within which compartments between the shelves and the frames lunch boxes 40 are confined firmly, each box being formed of foraminous material to admit cold air and being provided with a hinged cover 42. For holding these lunch -racks against bouncing, there are a plurality of cross cleats 43 arranged, on the inner face of the casing cover and disposed to bear upon the racks when the cover. is closed.

From the above description it will be seen that the cold air from the ice box can freely permeate the contents of the refrigerator. Also, it will be seen that the contents are held against jarring and bouncing about due to the motion of the automobile. Finally, it will be seen that a refrigerator constructed as above described is strong and durable and is formed of a few simple and inexpensive parts that will not easily get out of order.

In practice, the refrigerator is carried on the running board or trunk rack so that it will easily drain. A

lVhat is claimed, is

ln a refrigerator, a casing, an ice can disposed within the casing, article supporting racks disposed in the casing and surrounding the ice can, a cover for the casing having a spring pressed follower plate carried thereby and adapted to enter the upper end of the can when the cover is closed, said plate having its edges slidably engaged with the walls of the can to close the upper end thereof and to prevent relative movement thereto, said vplate also being adapted to yieldably engage the contents of the can, cleats carried by the cover for engaging the upper ends of the racks, and serving to hold the racks against vertical movement.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. BILLING. Witnesses:

JAMES Karr, H. E. LOCKHARD. 

